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Nichelle Nichols Dead at 89 - Something Unique

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Aug 1, 2022, 1:22:56 AM8/1/22
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It is reported that actress Nichelle Nichols, best known
for playing "Lt. Uhura" in the Star Trek series and
movies, has died at age 89.

She WAS something very different. In an age where
Jim Crow attitudes still prevailed and "black" roles
were always as subservients, she naturally came across
as an absolute equal - 'race' was irrelevant. Her
character was not above some attitude and sass either.
Though mostly portrayed as a softish/romantic there
was no lack of steely resolve with grace when called
for. "Uhura" was a woman you would NOT want to meet
on the wrong side of a phasor gun.

My favorite line, early in the series, was when a
drunken "Sulu" in D'Artangian mode, bursts onto
the 'bridge' with a sword in hand, grabs her and
says "I'll save you fair maiden !". Her PERFECT
sarcastic instant reply (perhaps ad-lib) was
"Sorry- Neither !" For 1966 that was kinda *shocking* :-)

Nichols, after the first season, had expressed a
desire to quit the series - which she mentioned
to MLK in a chance meeting. He passionately
convinced her otherwise - saying she was not
playing a "black" role, but an EQUAL role - his
vision of a better future.

The latter "Uhura" of the Chris Pine trilogy was
really not as good - more "helpless/romantic",
somewhat lacking that hair-trigger fire wit and
presence (still a well-done role, cudos, but
Nichols was hard to beat). DID like the line
to a pre-Captain Kirk about sex with farm
animals though ... well delivered ......

There's always the bit about the "first inter-racial
kiss on (American) TV". In context it was a FORCED
kiss that upset both participants, a kind of rape.
Still, it got done. The immediate effect was small,
but that effect, once made, DID snowball.

So RIP Nichelle - something iconic and unique.
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